I have a buddy who has a significant gun collection, probably something around 50-60 long guns. I told him about my 06' I was selling and told him I would be willing to trade it straight up for a marlin 336.

he asked me to come over and bring the gun with me, I did and he walked back into his gun closet, dug around for a bit then emerged with a Marlin 336 that he had bought about 15 +/- years ago. hasen't been shot in probably 12 years. it has been sitting in either his cabinet or in a case since then

Looked it over, it had some use scratches but nothing too bad, I look the gun over a little closer, see some pitting under the barrel above the magazine, which is a hard spot to clean, but otherwise the gun is in pretty decent shape. lighting was pretty dim and I didn't notice anything else.

I get home around 9 last nite and put it in the safe and leave it, today I went and bought a mount and scope rings for it. I pull it out to make certain of the mount and decided to look down the barrel. what I found surprised me.....some pretty good rust pits in the barrel.

I go and get my cleaning kit and spend probably 2 hours scrubbing this thing with hoppes No.9 and a brass brush, burned thru probably 50 patches as well. got it pretty clean and I look down the barrel for the final inspection and it seems I got most of the pits out (from what I can see) save for one about halfway down the barrel on the right hand side.


my question is this:

I have never had to deal with this before, I keep my guns clean and in great shape. Is my accuracy going to be affected significantly? I assume this is a result of the gun lying dormant for so long.

I would like to field test it but I went to two stores today and they are out of 30-30 rounds.

Any help/insight would be appreciated.

You'll just have to shoot it and see how it performs. But I suspect you'll find it performs well within your requirements as a hunting rifle, given that is how you intend to use it.

X 2

I am probably not as experienced as many, I only have four Model 336s but none of them have rust in the bore and personally I don't know why you would settle for that since it will never get any better, and should you wish to sell it later then consider that as a negative.

Regarding ammo, we had a shortage up around Grayson Co, but Walmart and Academy have had it in stock the past 2-3 weeks. I was in Cabelas in Ft Worth 10 days ago, met a fellow for a Winchester 94. Cabelas had a variety of manufacturers and both 150 and 170 gr. I can spare a box if you have a way to get it. I do not want to mess with shipping. You can pay me back when it gets in stock where you are.

Just called my local gun store, they have Federal, 150 gr sp for $17.00/box. Maybe you need to check around. We have just starting to get back in stock as I mentioned in the above post.

I can always get my gun back and/or sell this one back to him....I just really don't want to go thru the hassle of hunting down another 336.

to be honest, I was offered a trade for a rifle in dallas, had I done it, no telling if that gun would have had the same issues and at that point I would have been SOL.

even at gun shows they lock the actions, no way to see down the bore. Its a crap shoot unless I can remove the bolt and look down the barrel, in many cases when purchasing used, you cannot.

You asked for help, I tried to help. You asked for advice, I said there were people who knew more then I did and I only currently have 4 Model 336 but none have rust down the bore. You have given reasons that you can't look down the bore, well, I would be suspicious of anyone who would not let me at least work the action.

You asked about ammo, no response to what I offered. I had to go by Walmart tonight and walked by the ammo section, a habit of mine. Sherman Walmart had Winchester 150 gr in stock for $15.77, course that does not mean your store will.

Slightly different subject, Walmart also had Winchester 22 mag, 40 gr hp, for $10.77/box, no limit.

No don't take it the wrong way. I appreciate the help

I am gonna check bass pro tomorrow and if I don't find ammo I will take you up on the offer. I will pay shipping

How well do your 336's shoot?

I believe I'd trade back.

I've run into that strapped down action at gun shows. I tell them if it's good, we can talk. I have had them let me look down the barrel. I think it's a reasonable request on a used gun of any kind.

Very first gun I ever bought was a Remington 700 270Win. Little did I know at the time but the bore had major rust near the muzzle. That gun would still group right around 1" at 100 yards and POI never changed in the 10 years I owned it.

I am still of the opinion that rust is not a good thing in a bore but its not a death sentence either.

As far as gun shows locking their actions shut. Just ask them to cut the tie off so you can inspect the action and bore. Never had one single person refuse to do it. They just have to retie it when you are done.

If you decide to keep it try some JB Bore paste. I've used it to clean up barrels on several mil-surp guns that were in bad shape.

A little rust wouldn't bother me if the gun still shot okay.

Also, 30-30 ammo has been hard to find for a year or so now but Wal-Mart does seem to have it in stock more often than Academy at least in my area.

My 30 year old Marlin will shoot any 150gr factory ammo about 2" at 100 yards...never really better or worse. It doesn't like the Leverevolution ammo.

I hope to get it shooting this weekend

I wondered about the leverevolution but I hear alot of guys that have tried it says its not that accurate

I had a 336 for many years, as did my Dad. They aren't what you might call super accurate, but they do just fine for deer hunting. As for the state of the bore, Dad NEVER EVER cleaned his 30/30 and finally (after 25 years or so) the barrel finally gave up on spinning bullets. You should be fine. Just shoot it and see, like others have suggested. And I'd put a 4 power scope on it if I were you. That combo worked for me for years. I still even have the old 4 power Weaver scope. I guess I should sell it, but it probably isn't worth much and I don't need the money.

My dad had an old .303 British rifle that had some minor pitting in it, yet it was "Deer" accurate out to 150 yards. Farthest he ever got a kill with. It was an old MkIIINOI that had been sporterized in the 1950s. With Remington Core-lock's it kept meat on our table. We always used Remingtons, so I do not know how other brands would have worked.

Gonna head to bass pro here in a bit, gonna try and find a 2x7 variable for it

The burrus FF II with ballistic plex is spot on out to 250 with lever evoultion ammo.

Ironically the only gun that I have ever owned that loves corelokts is my 336.

I'd run a box through it and then clean it again.

Take it out put a round in it run it through the cycle then eject the round... you don't have to fire it... if it does that without any hitches your good... I keep a Marlin 35rem with me at all times.. I don't take care of it at all.. wipe it down every now and then and spray rem oil in the chamber and crank the lever back and forth a few times till its smooth as butter... gets rained on constantly while im walking around set it down in the mud more than a few times. I also had it leaning on the side of my truck once and forgot bout it until I took off and felt the truck run it over... picked it up ran a round through it and no damage what so ever... cant say enough good things about that model gun... just built to last

Don't put a scope on it you will want to take it off the first time you go walk around in thick brush with it... just good irons or a peep...

If you want to spend the money the Hornady revolution rounds are worth it imo... im cheap though so use Remington ha

Found a few boxes of corelokts and a 2x7 Leupold

This is it turning out to be fun.

I just hope she groups

Make sure and get a hammer spur also!!!

Good show, happy you found the ammo. I know my four 336's will shoot 2" @ 100 yds, and I have never tried for any absolute best. Since I reload I use my 30-30s to also shoot any left over or gimme type 308 bullets, from 110 gr Speer plinkers up to some 170 cast bullets, but the microgroove does not like the cast that well. So far the armadillos and possum and other varmints have not argued. Even the spire points, I only load one in the chamber and one in the tube. Let us know how you do.

I had a simple Tasco Red Point on mine many years ago, seems I was invaded by armadillos and it was easy to hold a light in one hand and find the red dot at night. This was back in the 80's before all the new hi-intensity lights. Once you find out how it groups and if you decide to keep it, you might want to consider Navasot advice and pick up a Williams 5-D receiver, will keep the gun trim plus still give you good accuracy out to 100 yds or more, depending on your eyesight.

Gun works




It's defiantly not a bolt action when it comes to accuracy but at 100 yards its acceptable